Wake Tech raising parking fees to pay for police force

A police force with 14 sworn officers soon will oversee security at Wake Technical Community College.

The Wake Tech Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved a campus-wide police department at all Wake Tech locations and will increase parking fees from $15 per year to $125 per year to cover the $2.2 million cost.

By comparison, the Wake County Public Schools System charges students $170 per year for parking.

The goal is to mitigate violence, serve as a deterrent and provide rapid response in case of emergency, according to the college. The force will be similar to those at 14 other community colleges and the universities in the UNC System.